Council grants conditional-use permit for MMSD ground-mounted solar array at 8400 S. Fifth

The Oak Creek Common Council on April 6 approved a conditional-use permit for Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to install a ground-mounted solar array at its property at 8400 South Fifth Avenue.

Christy Lane summarized the project: 89,000 square feet of panels, a transformer enclosure and associated switchgear. The project required and received three variances from the Board of Zoning Appeals for placing panels in the front yard, for panel height (9.75 feet vs. the 5-foot limit), and for a zero-foot setback from wetlands. The plan commission recommended approval contingent on a site and landscaping plan.

At council questions, project representatives provided technical details. The applicant measured transformer noise at about 60 decibels at one foot from the transformer, which the consultant compared to typical household dishwasher noise; the applicant also proposed 10-foot arborvitae screening along Fifth Avenue. Construction scheduling called for site-plan review in May and material procurement in summer with construction to follow.

Alderman Marshall moved to approve Resolution 12666-04626 granting the conditional-use permit; the council approved the resolution by roll call. The permit is conditioned on final site-plan and landscaping approvals that the plan commission and staff will review at the next steps.

The decision advances MMSD's plans to add local generation on a municipal utility property while maintaining city oversight of screening, sound and wetland adjacency through site-plan review.